(KTSF by Hellas Leung)
27 year old Ivan doesn’t have many Chinese New Year decorations in his San Leandro home .
He says “I live alone. Whom do I decorate for?” It has been years since he was able to have dinner with his family on the new year ‘s eve.
Ivan who came from Guangzhou, China about eight years ago says there is a huge difference between celebrating Chinese New Year in China and here in the Bay Area.
He was excited to put on new clothes and new shoes on the first day of the new year during his childhood, but not now. That’s because he always has to work during the first few days of the new year.
Ivan remembers that there are many customs and taboos for people who live in Canton during the Chinese New Year. He feels some of these customs are “ridiculous.”
For example, people are not supposed to wash their hair on the first fifteen days of the new year.
“Why are we prohibited from washing our hair?” he asked. “It does not meet the sanitary standard.”
Once custom he agrees with is waiting until the second day of the new year to sweep the floor . People are not supposed to do that on the first day.
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